Posted on 10/11/2022 6:10:49 AM PDT by Red Badger
OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S.’s third largest railroad union rejected a deal with employers Monday, renewing the possibility of a strike that could cripple the economy. Both sides will return to the bargaining table before that happens.
Over half of track maintenance workers represented by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division who voted opposed the five-year contract despite 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses. Union President Tony Cardwell said the railroads didn’t do enough to address the lack of paid time off — particularly sick time — and working conditions after the major railroads eliminated nearly one-third of their jobs over the past six years.
“Railroaders are discouraged and upset with working conditions and compensation and hold their employer in low regard. Railroaders do not feel valued,” Cardwell said in a statement. “They resent the fact that management holds no regard for their quality of life, illustrated by their stubborn reluctance to provide a higher quantity of paid time off, especially for sickness.”
The group that represents the railroads in negotiations said they were disappointed the union rejected the agreement, but emphasized that no immediate threat of a strike exists because the union agreed to keep working for now.
Four other railroad unions have approved their agreements with freight railroads including BNSF, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern, CSX and Norfolk Southern, but all 12 unions representing 115,000 workers must ratify their contracts to prevent a strike. Another union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, initially rejected its deal but has since renegotiated a new contract. Voting will be completed in mid-November.
President Joe Biden pressured the railroads and unions to reach a deal last month ahead of a mid-September deadline to allow a strike or walkout. Many businesses also urged Congress to be ready to intervene in the dispute and block a strike if an agreement wasn’t reached because so many companies rely on railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products.
In general, the deals the unions agreed to closely follow the recommendations a special panel of arbitrators that Biden appointed made this summer. That Presidential Emergency Board recommended what would be the biggest raises rail workers have seen in more than four decades, but it didn’t resolve the unions’ concerns about working conditions. Instead it said the unions should pursue additional negotiations or arbitration that can take years with each railroad individually.
The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way union said it agreed to delay any strike until five days after Congress reconvenes in mid November to allow time for additional negotiations.
Quality of life issues took center stage at the end of these negotiations, with unions representing conductors and engineers holding out until the end for three unpaid leave days a year for medical appointments and a promise that railroads will negotiate further about giving those employees regularly scheduled days off when they aren’t on call. Engineers and conductors have complained that strict attendance policies make it hard to take any time off.
Track maintenance workers in the BMWED generally have more regular schedules than engineers and conductors, but all the rail unions have objected to the lack of paid sick time in the industry — particularly after working to keep trains moving throughout the pandemic.
Rutgers University professor Todd Vachon, who teaches labor relations classes, said he’s not entirely surprised the contract was rejected given how emboldened union members feel to fight for better working conditions amidst the current worker shortage.
“The biggest sticking issue is quality of life — especially access to paid time off and paid sick time. If the railroads can make some movement in that area, it will likely go a long way with rail workers who currently feel they are not being respected by their employers,” Vachon said. “Wages and resource allocation are one important part of contract negotiations, but feeling respected by one’s employer remains one of the top reasons that workers form and join unions.”
Although a strike is now possible, Vachon said he’s not too worried yet because both sides have more than a month to reach a new agreement.
President Joe Biden pressured the railroads and unions to reach a deal.
That’s not bird dropping on your coat Joe.
Another finger flag for Joey
I’m not a fan of unions.
That said, due to the nature of my job I speak to a number of railroad workers.
It began with Covid. The railroads dumped a bunch of their employees, especially the senior ones, to save money. But when things picked up again, they didn’t have enough employees. Now the railroads are trying to figure out how to run those miles long cars with TWO employees on board.
But this is why they are calling it a “quality of life” issue. The employees are fed up with their days off being routinely cancelled. Even when putting in for their PTO days and after being approved, they are expected to still come into work if needed. There is a story bouncing around online that I can’t verify, that a fellow was not able to attend his own wife’s funeral due to these practices.
I used to work for a company where I had a ‘Beeper’ on me 24/7, and had to come in to work, 30 miles away, at a moments notice if something broke down.
After a couple of calls on ‘my day off’ or ‘in the middle of the night’ I quit..............
On-call 24/7 for weeks on end, no paid sick leave, no time off for family emergency or parents death. If you do take unpaid time off, you are penalized with losing attendence points. Lose too many and you are disciplined or terminated. Pay is good but not many jobs these days, including the military at peace, have such strict policies.
For now… Another RR argument is that the new PTC (Positive train control) technology will allow for elimination of one of those two workers. Sounds good but the multitude of tasks required in the cab (communications, paperwork, engine speed, etc. not including watching the track ahead for obstacles or pedestrians) makes the need for two in the cab a safety requirement. For now current Federal regulations agree, but there are exceptions that the companies are trying to exploit, if not now but at the time of the NEXT contract.
The stories I hear are similar. The RRs are trying to hire more employees but after learning that they have to give up any semblance of a normal or family life, they leave the class. Maybe one in twenty will make it through and then there is a six-month on-the-job training. Also, many senior employees with 15 years or more time on the job are quitting because of the recent RR rules. They realize that health and family trump the pay.
Biden’s union buddies are union presidents and office staff, not the working guys on the road for weeks at a time. The working stiffs don’t send big checks to the DNC. It’s the bosses that do. And the Dims want chaos in America, but ‘elections’ come first.
Note that a large number of railroad employees are over age 50, as the jobs are too dangerous for males age 18-39, due to the increased risk (84% higher for the injected) chance of dying of cardiovascular disease. Real statistics, real-world challenges.
No. He makes morons look smart.
Not sure about that correlation. Over 50 and working as an engineman for a RR for 20 plus years especially in today's work environment would lead to heart health issues, alcohol abuse, depression, etc. For many younger men, it's much more likely that when they find out what the job entails in terms of time away from home, being on call 24/7, lack of being able to take time off for health, family or other personal emergencies makes the decision for them notwithstanding the pay that comes with the job.
where’s harry truman when you need him ...
The rail unions reject the deal “unanimously?” On many of the rail union websites, they were touting how their boards “unanimously” saw fit to support a particular Residential candidate.
“I used to work for a company where I had a ‘Beeper’ on me 24/7, and had to come in to work, 30 miles away, at a moments notice…”
A place I work tried to sneak that in on me. I’d been there a year when a co-worker, not a supervisor, handed me an alphanumeric pager saying “it’s just so you know what’s going on”.
3 days later the damned thing went off and I didn’t respond. My supervisor started giving me crap about not responding. I handed it back to him on the spot.
L
That’s standard union spew.
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